Apparatus for controlling the movement of a program carrier

ABSTRACT

The present program carrier control apparatus comprises a power storing and releasing device such as a spiral spring, which is arranged to be cocked in response to driving the program carrier in a forward direction past a sensing station. When the program carrier reaches a predetermined forward position, the energy stored in the storing device is instantaneously released for rapidly returning the program carrier into a starting position.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,745,839 Ramstetter July 17, 1973 [54]APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE 2,155,497 4/1939 Latil 74/30 MOVEMENT OF APROGRAM CARRIER 2,796,729 6/1957 Black 74/30 3,069,608 12/1962 Forresteret al. 90/1399 Inventor: Rudolf Ramstetter, e g, 3,217,852 [1965 Brownet a1. 74 422 Germany 3,337,806 8/1967 Oppenheimer et al. 74/303,602,643 8/1971 Wright, Jr 340/149 A [731 Assgnee- Firm" 3,627,994 121971 Sellbach 340/149 A Kommanditgesellschaft, Mumch, Germany PrimaryExaminer-Charles J. Myhre [22] Filed: May 11, 1971 AssistantExaminer-Wesley S. Ratliff, Jr. [2]] Appl NOJ 142,184 Att0rney-W. G.Fasse [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT July 11, 1970Germany P 20 34 516.8 The N Program carrier Control apparatus prises apower storing and releasing device such as a 52 us. (:1 74/30, 340/149A, l78/7.6 Spiral Spring, which is arranged to be cocked in 51 1m. 01.;F16h 19/04 spouse to driving the Program carrier i a forward 58 Field ofSearch 74/29, 89.17, 422, faction P a Sensing Station when the program 7oo 99, 30 1; 340/149 90/1399 rier reaches a predetermined forwardposition, the energy stored in the storing device is instantaneously re-5 References Cited leased for rapidly returning the program carrier intoa UNITED STATES PATENTS Startmg 1,512,647 10/1924 Stevens 74/29 17Claims, 3 Drawing Figures D Pmmwwu mu sum-1 er 2 INVENTOR. RUOOLF RAMSTE 7 7' 5R PATENIED U 1 7 SHEEP? BF 2 INVENTOR. RUDOLF PAMSTETTER ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to anapparatus for controlling the movement of a program carrier, especiallyto such an apparatus in which a sensing device is arranged adjacent tothe path of the back and forth movement of the program carrier forscanning the program carrier as it is driven by suitable drive meanspast the sensing device.

Control arrangements of this type are used, for example, for controllingmachine tools in accordance with a program. However, the present deviceis suitable for use in connection with any program control in which aprogram carrier is moved back and forth past a sensing station.

The program carrier may be a program card which usually comprisespunched holes operating as gear teeth or which card is provided with atoothed rack. In any event, either the punched holes or the toothed rackare adapted for cooperation with a pinion driven by a drive member.Frequently, it is desirable to either return the program control card toits starting position after a program sequence has been completed or torepeat a portion of the program. In this connection it is known, toreverse the direction of rotation of the motor for the drive pinion,whereby the card is returned to the starting position in accordance withthe rotational speed of the drive motor.

This return of the program carrier by reversing the direction ofrotation of the drive motor thus requires a respective amount of timewhich is lost for the actual program sequence so that the program itselfis unnecessarily prolonged.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing it is the aim of theinvention to achieve the following object singly or in combination:

to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, especially to keep the timeto a minimum which is required for returning the program carrier;

to return the program carrier rapidly by a distance or spacing which isto be repeated for the further program sequence or which is to berepeated for a new program whereby such rapid return is to beaccomplished by a power which has been stored during the forwardmovement of the program carrier and which is instantaneously effectiveupon the program carrier for returning it to a desired return position;

to store a certain amount of energy in response to the forward movementof the program carrier, whereby such stored energy is kept within suchlimits as will not impede the forward movement of the program carrier;

to assure that the program carrier will be moved in a reverse directionby an exactly predetermined distance;

to assure a more efficient utilization of the controlled apparatus, forexample a machine tool, and to reduce the amount of time necessary for aprogram sequence or for resetting the controlled apparatus for therepetition of a program;

to assure that energy which has been stored in response to the forwardadvance of the program carrier is suddenly released so that the programcarrier will be returned to the desired position during a minimum amountof time; and

to assure an exact control of the termination of the forward and reversemovement of the program carrier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided anapparatus for controlling the movement of a program carrier which,through drive means, is moved back and forth past a sensing or scanningdevice. The apparatus comprises an energy storing device in which thestored energy is increased in response to the forward movement of theprogram carrier. The drive means which move the program carrier past thesensing or scanning device are disconnected from the program carrierwhen the latter reaches an adjustable or predeterminable forwardposition. The stored energy is released at the earliest simultaneouslywith disconnecting the drive means from the program carrier for rapidlyreturning the latter by a predetermined length or distance. Theapparatus further comprises means for limiting the return movement ofthe program carrier.

The driving connection between the program carrier and a source forsupplying forward drive power may comprise gear means as part of theprogram carrier which cooperate with a positively driven pinion. Ifdesired, such pinion may be connected to the source of forward drivepower through reduction gear means. In one embodiment of the invention,a second drive pinion is provided which also cooperates with the gearmeans of the program carrier and simultaneously with the energy storingmeans.

It has been found to be advantageous to apply the stored energy to theprogram carrier to cause its return movement without impeding the effectof the stored energy. This is accomplished according to the invention byuncoupling or decoupling the forward driving connection of the programcarrier from the forward drive source. For example, this may beaccomplished by shifting the drive pinion out of meshing contact withthe gear means of the program carrier. Substantially the same effect,namely avoiding any impedance of the return movement of the programcarrier, may be achieved by disrupting the connection between the drivepinion and the gearing of the drive source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may beclearly understood, it will now be described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a controlapparatus according to the invention comprising a forward drive pinionand a separate return pinion;

FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating another embodiment of a controlapparatus according to the invention employing but one pinion for theforward and reverse movement of the program carrier; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but illustrating two separatedrive pinions as well as contact means for the position control of theprogram carrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1 there isshown a diagrammatic view of a first embodiment of a control apparatusaccording to the invention comprising a sensing device 1 including asensing or scanning pin 2 which scans the embossed surface 3 of theprogram carrier 4 which may be, for example, a program card. Theprotruding surface members 3' of the program carrier 4 represent theprogram as such, as is well known in the art. The protruding surfacemembers 3 may be replaced by punched holes in the program carrier as isalso known in the art.

The program carrier 4 is supported by a support member 6 one end ofwhich is joumaled to a housing or chassis not shown, by means of ajournal axis 5. The tilting of the support member 6 from its full lineposition into its dash dotted position or vice versa is accomplished bythe cooperation between a spring 7 and a cam member 8, the operation ofwhich will be described in more detail below.

The program carrier 4 is driven in a forward direction by means of adrive member 9, for example a motor, which drives a pinion 10, forexample through a gear member 9'. The forward direction is indicated bythe arrow 40. In order that the forward drive pinion 10 may activelydrive the program carrier 4, the latter is provided with gear means 24as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The gear means 24 may, for example, compriseperforations in the program carrier itself or a toothed rack may beattached to the program carrier.

The gear means 24 of the program carrier 4 further cooperate or meshwith a second pinion 11 which is joumaled on a shaft 11 attached to aplate or wall 14 which in turn is attached to the support member 6. Thepinion l l meshes with a gear 12 also rotatably attached to the plate 14by means of a shaft 12', whereby the gear 12 is also supported throughthe plate 14 by the support member 6. A power or energy storing means,for example a spiral spring 13 is connected with its inner end 13 to theshaft 12'. The spiral spring 13 has an outer end 13" which is secured tothe plate 14. Thus, the pinion 11, the gear 12, and the spiral spring 13are all connected to the support member 6 by means of the plate 14.

As viewed in FIG. 1, the gear 12 is provided with a cam disk 20 eithersecured to the gear 12 or forming part thereof, whereby the cam disk 20is located behind the gear 12 or rather between the gear 12 and theplate 14. The cam disk 20 cooperates with a pawl 15 which is biased by aspring 16. When the cam disk rotates along with the gear 12 in theforward direction indicated by the arrow n1, the tip of the pawl 15rides in a groove of the cam disk 20 until it rides up on the camsurface 20' but without snapping against a stop surface 21 of the camdisk 20 as will be described in more detail below.

The apparatus according to FIG. 1 operates as follows. When the motor ordrive member 9 drives the gear 9 in the direction n1, the forward drivepinion 10 is in meshing contact with the gear 24 of the program carrier4, thus moving the program carrier 4 in the forward direction indicatedby the arrow 40, whereby the program carrier 4 is moved past thescanning pin 2 of the sensing device 1. The sensing pin 2 isperpendicularly supported relative to the program carrier 4 so that itmay follow the program representing protrusions and depressions 3 on thesurface 3 of the program carrier 4 as the latter passes the sensing pinin contact therewith.

As the pin 2 scans the surface of the program carrier 4 it performs backand forth movements corresponding to said depressions and protrusions.These back and forth movements are transmitted, for example, by a levermechanism 17 to a switching rod 18 which actuates switching means 19 inresponse to the movement of the sensing pin 2.

As long as the program carrier 4 moves in the forward direction 40, thesupport member 6 is in its full line position. Accordingly, the gearmeans 24 of the program carrier 4 mesh not only with the pinion 10 butalso with the pinion 11 driving it in counter clockwise direction. Thepinion ll drives the gear 12 which thus cocks the spiral spring 13 inresponse to the forward movement of the program carrier as it passes thescanning device 1.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the size of the pinion 11 and of the gear12 is selected so that the entire length of the forward advance of theprogram carrier 4 is slightly less than one complete revolution of thegear 12. Thus, the tip of the pawl 15 will not override the entirelength of the cam surface 20 since the gear 12 and the cam disk 20 forma unit, the latter rotates also in the direction of the arrow n1, thatis in clockwise direction, whereby the tip of the spring biased pawl 15glides along the cam surface of the cam disk 20 as the latter is driventogether with the gear 12. Just prior to the completion of a completerevolution by the gear 12 and the cam disk 20, the support member 6together with the program carrier 4, the pinion 11, the gear 12 with thespring 13, and the cam disk 20 are moved into the dash dotted positionof the support member 6 as shown in FIG. 1. This is accomplished byrotating the cam member 8 in the direction of the arrow 8. At this time,that is, just shortly prior to the completion of a complete revolutionof gear 12, the tip of the pawl 15 rides up on the raised end portion20' of the cam member 20 however, not far enough so as to snap againstthe stop surface 21. The cam member 8 performs about a one quarterrevolution in response to the program carrier reaching its forward endposition. The cam meber 8 may be operated in a plurality of ways, forexample, it may be pivoted by the pawl 15 when the latter rises on saidend portion 20. The cam member 8 then maintains this positionindependently of the position of the pawl 15 during the movement of thegear 12 counterclockwise (n2). The starting position of the cam member 8out of which the support member 6 was lowered may be restored by afurther control impulse caused, for instance, when the pawl 15 comes torest against the stop surface 21. However, cam member 8 may also beoperated in response to the movement of the program carrier 4 as will bedescribed below.

Simultaneously with the downward tilting of the support member 6, theprogram carrier 4 is brought out of meshing contact with the forwarddrive pinion 10 whereby it is decoupled from the drive motor 9. Further,the scanning pin 2 is disengaged from the embossed surface 3' of theprogram carrier. However, the downward movement of the support member 6does not disengage the pinion 11 from the program carrier. Thus, thedriving force of the motor 9 cannot be effective on the program carrier4 whereas the force of the cocked spring 13 can be instantaneouslytransmitted through the pinion 11 to the program carrier 4. Thus, theuncocking spring 13 moves the gear 12 and with it the cam disk 20 in thecounter clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow n2. The gear 12rotates the pinion 11 and thus the program carrier 4 slides along thesupport member 6 back into its starting position as shown by arrow 41 ina very short period of time.

The return movement of the program carrier 4 is limited and thus thestarting position of the program carrier 4, as shown in FIG. 1, isdefined by the stop surface 21 on the cam disk 20. When the tip of thepawl 15 rests against the stop surface 21, as is illustrated in FIG. 1,the program carrier 4 is in its starting position. During the returnmovement of the program carrier 4 in the direction of the arrow 41, thecam member 8 is moved in clockwise direction for approximately onequarter of a full revolution whereby the support member 6 along with theprogram carrier 4 and all the elements carried by the support member 6are returned to the starting position by spring 7 at the end of thereturn movement. As a result, the program carrier 4 is again broughtinto meshing contact with the drive pinion 10 and it is thus coupled tothe drive means 9, 9' whereupon a new feed advance of the programcarrier 4 starts and the program sequence is repeated.

The cam disk 20 in the embodiment of FIG. 1, serves as a stop forlimiting the return movement of the program carrier whereby the forwardand return movements have a length corresponding substantially to thelength of the program carrier, such as a card.

A modification of the embodiment of FIG. 1 involves limiting the lengthof the return movement to a fraction of the length of the forwardmovement whereby the gear 12 makes several revolutions during theforward movement but only a few or one revolution, or even just afraction of one revolution during the return movement in accordance withthe arrangement of the cam disk 20 and the pawl relative to each other.If the program carrier is to be returned completely, the pawl 15 is tobe retracted out of the reach of stop surface 21 of the cam disk 20. Inthis instance, the end position of the program carrier may, for example,be defined by a stop effective upon the program carrier itself.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 employs only one drive pinion 10for the forward and reverse movement of the program carrier 4. Hereagain, the pinion 10 is in meshing contact with the gear means 24 of theprogram carrier 4. The pinion 10 is driven in the forward direction by amotor 42 connected to the pinion 10 through a clutch 23 and a shaft 25,.The power or energy storing means used in FIG. 2 comprise a helicalspring 22. One end 22' of the spring 22 is rigidly connected to theshaft 25 between the clutch 23 and the pinion 10, preferably adjacent tothe pinion 10. The other end 22" of the spring 22 is secured to a wall26 of the chassis or housing.

The clutch 23 is thus arranged between the point of the shaft to whichthe end 22' is connected and the drive motor 42. When the pinion 10 isdriven in the forward direction, the spring 22 is cocked just as in theembodiment of FIG. 1. Upon the completion of the for ward advance of theprogram carrier 4, the drive shaft 25 of the pinion 10 is disengagedfrom the motor 42 by means of the clutch 23 whereby the energy stored inthe cocked spring 22 is instantaneously transmitted to the pinion 10through the shaft 25 for returning the program carrier 4 to its startingposition.

The actuation or disengagement of the clutch 23 in response to thereaching of the forward end position by the program carrier 4, may beaccomplished by the actuation of respective contacts directly throughthe program carrier itself as will be described with reference to FIG.3. Further with reference to FIG. 2 it will be appreciated that thehelical spring 22 could be replaced, for example, by a spiral spring. Inany event, the spring could also be arranged on the left side of thepinion 10, whereby the end 22' could be secured to the pinion it selfwhile the spring end 22" would also be secured to a fixed member of theapparatus, such as a chassis wall. Moreover, the spring could bereplaced by other spring means directly effective upon the programcarrier 4, for example leaf spring means.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 employs, similarly to the embodiment of FIG. 1,two pinions It) and 11. The drive motor 42 is again coupled to thepinion 10 through a clutch 23 and a drive shaft 25 just as in FIG. 2.However, the power or energy storing means in the form of a helicalspring 27, shown in FIG. 3, is effective upon the drive pinion illthrough the shaft 28 separate from shaft 25. For this purpose, one end27 of the spring 27 is rigidly secured to the shaft 28 while the otherend 27" of the spring 27 is rigidly secured to the chassis 26. Sinceboth the pinion 10 and the pinion 11 are in meshing contact with thegear means 24 of the program carrier 4a, the spring 27 will be cocked asthe program carrier 4a is driven in the forward direction 40 through thepinion 10. As soon as the clutch 23 is released or uncoupled, the energystored in the spring 27 is instantaneously released for rotating thepinion Ill and thus rapidly returning the program carrier 4 to itsstarting position.

The springs 22 and 27 may be connected with their respective ends 22'and 27 to the respective shaft 25 or 28 by means of clutches or othercoupling means not shown.

As shown in FIG. 3, the program carrier 40 is provided with alongitudinal notch or recess 29 along an edge of the program carrier 4a.The end walls of the notch 29 provide stop means 30 and 31 whichcooperate with respective contact elements 32 and 33 for controllingforward and reverse limits of the program carrier movement. In FIG. 3the arrow 40 again indicates the forward direction of movement and asshown, the program carrier 40 has just reached its forward most positionin which the contact means 32 are closed by the upper limit stop 31. Theclosure of the contact means 32 may, for example, operate a relay whichin turn deactivates the clutch 23, whereby the details of the clutchactivating circuit are not shown since they are well known in the art.

As the rapid return motion of the program carrier 40 starts instantlyupon the release of the clutch 23, the stop 30 comes into cooperatingengagement with the contact set 33 which is thereby closed. Such closureis used for reengaging the driving connection between the motor 42 andthe drive pinion 10, whereby the program carrier is ready for a newforward movement.

As mentioned above, the power or energy storing means may comprise, forexample, spiral springs suchas shown at 13 in FIG. 1 or helical springsas shown at 22 or 27 in FIGS. 2 or 3. So called torsional springs arealso suitable for the purposes of the present invention. Preferably, thespring means are pre-stressed or biased, so that during the forwardmovement of the program carrier 4 or 4a, the spring means areadditionally stressed or cocked, whereby the spring means exert a forceon the program carrier in the direction of return movement while theprogram carrier is moving forwardly. Such force shall be limited in sucha manner that it will not impede the forward movement of the programcarrier.

In the embodiments in which only one drive pinion is used, the power orenergy storing means will be driven directly by the pinion 10 or by theshaft 25 which drives the pinion 10 as shown in FIG. 2. In thisparticular embodiment, a coupling such as the clutch 23 is to beprovided in the embodiment of FIG. 2 in order to disconnected the drivemotor 42 from the drive pinion 10. However, the clutch 23 is notnecessarily required in the embodiment of FIG. 3 if the program carrier40 is tiltable as shown in FIG. 1 for disrupting the meshing contactbetween the pinion l and the gear means 24 of the program carrier.

As a modification of the forward and reverse stop limits illustrated inconnection with FIG. 3 it is possible to provide the program carrieritself with respective forward and reverse markings, for example, thelast and first protrusion of a program cycle may be employed forcontrolling the respective coupling means.

A still different embodiment for limiting the reverse motion may beprovided in the form of cam means as illustrated in connection with FIG.I. A still different modification for controlling or stopping thereverse movement could be in the form of a brake cooperating with thepower or energy storing means.

It is also advantageous to disengage the program carrier 4 or 4a fromthe sensing device 1 during the return movement of the program carrierbecause in this manner the sensing elements, such as the scanning pin 2,cannot cause a reading as a result of the sudden return movement of theprogram carrier. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the separation between theprogram carrier 4 and the sensing device I is basically accomplished bythe tilting of the support member 6 into its dash dotted position duringthe return movement of the program carrier. However, in the alternativea separate lifting mechanism, such as a solenoid 43 may be providedwhich is linked to the sensing device with its armature 44. The solenoidmay be energized in response to the return movement of the programcarrier 4 whereby the entire sensing device is lifted and thus thescanning pin 2 is prevented from contacting the surface of the programcarrier 4.

In the above described embodiments, the energy storing means as well asthe decoupling devices and the driving connections between the drivemeans and the program carrier have been illustrated as mechanical means.However, it is quite possible to employ means operating on differentprinciples but providing the same function, for example, the drive meansfor the program carrier could be electro magnetic solenoids. Thus,although specific example have been described, it is to be understoodthat the invention is intended to cover all modifications andequivalents within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for moving a program carrier in a forward direction andin a reverse direction comprising sensing means, drive means for movingthe program carrier past said sensing means in said forward direction,said drive means including a drive member as well as program carrieradvancing means, coupling means operatively interposed between saiddrive member and said carrier advancing means, program carrier retumingmeans, and power storing means connected to said carrier returning meanswhereby said power storing means is cocked by said drive means when thelatter advances said program carrier in said forward direction, andwhereby said program carrier is returned by said power storing means inresponse to decoupling of said drive member from said carrier advancingmeans to return said program carrier for a predetermined distance with aspeed appreciably higher than the speed of said program carrier in saidforward direction.

2. The apparatus according to claim I, further comprising means forlimiting the reverse movement of the program carrier.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said carrier advancingmeans comprise a first pinion driven by said drive member, and whereinsaid carrier retuming means comprise a second pinion for cooperatingwith said power storing means, said program carrier comprising means formeshing with said first and second pinion.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said drive means furthercomprise reduction gear means arranged between said drive member andsaid first pinion.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said coupling meanscomprise clutch means for connecting said drive member to said firstpinion and positioning means for disrupting the meshing between thefirst pinion and the program carrier, said apparatus further comprisingdecoupling means for cooperating with said clutch means and with saidpositioning means for simultaneously disengaging said drive member fromsaid first pinion and disrupting the meshing between said first pinionand the program carrier.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said coupling meanscomprise positioning means for disrupting the meshing between the firstpinion and the program carrier, whereby decoupling of the drive memberis accomplished.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said coupling meanscomprise a support member for said program carrier, journal meansjournaled to one end of said support member, said coupling meanscomprising means for tilting the support member with the program carrierthereon toward and away from said first pinion as well as toward andaway from said sensing means, said apparatus further comprising meansfor attaching said power storing means as well as said second pinion tosaid support member whereby tilting of the support member also decouplesthe second pinion as well as the power storing and releasing means fromsaid forward drive means.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power storing meanscomprise spring means.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said spring means arepre-stressed. l0.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said carrier advancingmeans and said carrier returning means comprise a common pinion and ashaft for connecting said pinion to said drive member, said powerstoring means being connected to said shaft at a shaft point locatedbetween said drive member and said pinion, said coupling means beingarranged between said drive member and said shaft point, said programcarrier comprising means for meshing with said pinion.

1 1. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said program carriercomprises means for actuating said coupling means.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said actuating meansfor said coupling means comprise stop means formed as notches in saidprogram carrier and contact means arranged for actuation by said stopmeans whereby the forward and reverse movement of the program carrier islimited by said stop means.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising stop elementsarranged for cooperation with said power storing means to limit thereverse movement of the program carrier.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means forseparating from each other said program carrier and said sensing meansduring the reverse movement of the program carrier.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said carrier advancingmeans comprise a first pinion as well as a shaft for connecting saidfirst pinion to said drive member, and wherein said program carrierreturning means comprise a second pinion as well as means for journalingsaid second pinion, said power storing means comprising means foroperatively connecting said second pinion to the power storing means,said coupling means being arranged between said drive member and saidshaft, said program carrier comprising means for meshing with said firstand second pin- 10H.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said carrier advancingmeans and said carrier returning means comprise a common pinion and ashaft for connecting the pinion to the drive member, said power storingmeans being arranged for cooperation with said pinion to cock the powerstoring means when said drive member drives the pinion in a forwarddirection and to drive the pinion by the power storing means in areverse direction when the drive member is decoupled from said shaft bysaid coupling means, said program carrier comprising means for meshingwith the pinion.

17. An apparatus for controlling the movement of a program carriercomprising: sensing means positioned relative to the program carrier forscanning the program carrier, forward drive means, coupling means foroperatively connecting the forward drive means to the program carrierfor moving the program carrier past the sensing means in a forwarddirection, power storing means, reverse drive means operativelyconnected between said power storing means and said program carrier forstoring energy in said power storing means in response to the forwardmovement of the program carrier, means for decoupling said couplingmeans in response to a predetermined forward position of the programcarrier for moving the program carrier in a reverse direction by thereverse drive means actuated by said power storing means to return theprogram carrier for a predetermined distance with a return speedappreciably higher as the forward speed caused by said forward drivemeans, and means for limiting the reverse movement of said programcarrier.

1. An apparatus for moving a program carrier in a forward direction andin a reverse direction comprising sensing means, drive means for movingthe program carrier past said sensing means in said forward direction,said drive means including a drive member as well as program carrieradvancing means, coupling means operatively interposed between saiddrive member and said carrier advancing means, program carrier returningmeans, and power storing means connected to said carrier returning meanswhereby said power storing means is cocked by said drive means when thelatter advances said program carrier in said forward direction, andwhereby said program carrier is returned by said power storing means inresponse to decoupling of said drive member from said carrier advancingmeans to return said program carrier for a predetermined distance with aspeed appreciably higher than the speed of said program carrier in saidforward direction.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising means for limiting the reverse movement of the programcarrier.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said carrieradvancing means comprise a first pinion driven by said drive member, andwherein said carrier returning means comprise a second pinion forcooperating with said power storing means, said program carriercomprising means for meshing with said first and second pinion.
 4. Theapparatus according to claim 3, wherein said drive means furthercomprise reduction gear means arranged between said drive member andsaid first pinion.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein saidcoupling means comprise clutch means for connecting said drive member tosaid first pinion and positioning means for disrupting the meshingbetween the first pinion and the program carrier, said apparatus furthercomprising decoupling means for cooperating with said clutch means andwith said positioning means for simultaneously disengaging said drivemember from said first pinion and disrupting the meshing between saidfirst pinion and the program carrier.
 6. The apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein said coupling means comprise positioning means fordisrupting the meshing between the first pinion and the program carrier,whereby decoupling of the drive member is accomplished.
 7. The apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein said coupling means comprise a supportmember for said program carrier, journal means journaled to one end ofsaid support member, said coupling means comprising means for tiltingthe support member with the program carrier thereon toward and away fromsaid first pinion as well as toward and away from said sensing means,said apparatus further comprising means for attaching said power storingmeans as well as said second pinion to said support member wherebytilting of the support member also decouples the second pinion as wellas the power storing and releasing means from said forward drive means.8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power storing meanscomprise spring means.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, whereinsaid spring means are pre-stressed.
 10. 10. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said carrier advancing means and said carrier returningmeans comprise a common pinion and a shaft for connecting said pinion tosaid drive member, said power storing means being connected to saidshaft at a shaft point located between said drive member and saidpinion, said coupling means being arranged between said drive memBer andsaid shaft point, said program carrier comprising means for meshing withsaid pinion.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidprogram carrier comprises means for actuating said coupling means. 12.The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said actuating means forsaid coupling means comprise stop means formed as notches in saidprogram carrier and contact means arranged for actuation by said stopmeans whereby the forward and reverse movement of the program carrier islimited by said stop means.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising stop elements arranged for cooperation with saidpower storing means to limit the reverse movement of the programcarrier.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprisingmeans for separating from each other said program carrier and saidsensing means during the reverse movement of the program carrier. 15.The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said carrier advancing meanscomprise a first pinion as well as a shaft for connecting said firstpinion to said drive member, and wherein said program carrier returningmeans comprise a second pinion as well as means for journaling saidsecond pinion, said power storing means comprising means for operativelyconnecting said second pinion to the power storing means, said couplingmeans being arranged between said drive member and said shaft, saidprogram carrier comprising means for meshing with said first and secondpinion.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said carrieradvancing means and said carrier returning means comprise a commonpinion and a shaft for connecting the pinion to the drive member, saidpower storing means being arranged for cooperation with said pinion tocock the power storing means when said drive member drives the pinion ina forward direction and to drive the pinion by the power storing meansin a reverse direction when the drive member is decoupled from saidshaft by said coupling means, said program carrier comprising means formeshing with the pinion.
 17. An apparatus for controlling the movementof a program carrier comprising: sensing means positioned relative tothe program carrier for scanning the program carrier, forward drivemeans, coupling means for operatively connecting the forward drive meansto the program carrier for moving the program carrier past the sensingmeans in a forward direction, power storing means, reverse drive meansoperatively connected between said power storing means and said programcarrier for storing energy in said power storing means in response tothe forward movement of the program carrier, means for decoupling saidcoupling means in response to a predetermined forward position of theprogram carrier for moving the program carrier in a reverse direction bythe reverse drive means actuated by said power storing means to returnthe program carrier for a predetermined distance with a return speedappreciably higher as the forward speed caused by said forward drivemeans, and means for limiting the reverse movement of said programcarrier.